Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Pumpkins- Are not only fun to carve into scary shapes but they are nutritional powerhouses. The flesh of the pumpkin is loaded with many anti-oxidants--vitamin A, C and E. And the seeds are loaded with the important immune boosting mineral zinc. So if you are looking to fight the flu naturally this season try adding pumpkin seeds, pumpkin muffins and all kinds of pumkin purees into your fall diet.

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. In a high-speed blender combine, pumpkin puree, dates, vanilla, coconut oil and maple syrup until creamy. Set aside. In a large bowl, combine the oats, ground walnuts, coconut, cinnamon, flax seeds, salt and baking powder until well combined. Stir in the pumpkin mixture, then fold in the chocolate chips.
Spoon dough into balls and flatten with a back of a fork. Bake for 15 minutes or until they are brown. Let cool before serving

About Me

I grew up with a fat dad—450 pounds (at his heaviest). Every week he was on a new fad diet, and my whole family was forced to eat whatever freeze dried, saccharin loaded concoction he was eating, so we would not blow his diet. By 9 years old, I was an expert on Atkins, Pritikin, Weight Watchers, and Jenny Craig, and had spent time at the Fat Farm at Duke University eating only white rice for 4 weeks.
Even though I was a tiny little thing, shorter and skinnier then any of my peers, this was the only food in my home. My only escape to normality was going to my grandmother’s house on the weekends. My parents liked to go out a lot, which was lucky for me as I got to spend every weekend at my grandmother’s house until I was 9. When I walked in the door, I felt like I had died and gone to heaven. The aroma of delicious baked goods, homemade soups, giant salads and beautiful fruits colored the air and my world. It was the only place I can remember feeling happy, safe and nourished. It was what I lived for and looked forward to. To this day my grandmother, who is 95, is my Angel. I want to share my stories and the recipes that my grandmother taught me.